Announcements from major scientific award bodies

OpenAI's GPT-4b Micro Model Boosts Stem Cell Efficiency with Retro Biosciences

Jan 17, 2025, 07:28 PM

OpenAI has developed a new AI model named GPT-4b micro in collaboration with Retro Biosciences, a longevity research company, to enhance the efficiency of stem cell production. The model focuses on re-engineering Yamanaka factors, a set of proteins that can transform human skin cells into stem cells, which are crucial for potential applications in regenerative medicine and organ building. According to OpenAI, the model has been trained on protein sequences from various species and has successfully suggested modifications that improved the effectiveness of two Yamanaka factors by more than 50 times. This project marks OpenAI's first foray into biological data modeling and is seen as a step towards determining if AI can make significant scientific discoveries, potentially advancing the field of longevity science. Retro Biosciences, funded by a $180 million investment from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, aims to extend the human lifespan by 10 years. The model's development was led by OpenAI researchers John Hallman and Aaron Jaech, alongside Retro researcher Rico Meinl. Retro CEO Joe Betts-Lacroix and Harvard aging researcher Vadim Gladyshev, who consults with Retro, have expressed optimism about the model's potential to improve stem cell production efficiency.